Chain.



PATBNTED JUNE 111 1907. W. T. JAMES. CHAIN.

ArrLIcATIoN FILED snr:r.4.1aoe.

4 SHBETB-BHBET 1.

INVENTOR No. 856,528. PATENTED JUNE 11, 1907.

K W. T. JAMES.

CHAIN.

APPLICATION man snPT.4.1so6.

- 4 suns-sans: a.

INVENTOR PATENTED .TUNE 1l, 1907. W. T. JAMES.

CHAIN.

APPLICATION FILED sBPT.4.19oe.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

WILLIAM T. JAMES, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

CHAIN.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 11, 1907.

Application filed September 4, 1906. Serial No. 333,037.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM T. JAMES, a citizen of the AUnited States,residing at, Chicago, in the countyof Cook and State of Illinois, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Chains, of which thefollowing is a specification.

My inventionrelates to chains, and especially to that type known asconveyer chains, and has for its objects g to provide a chain of thistype with pivotal bearing members of an enduring character and in whichthe friction is reduced to aminimum to provide a rocker joint for achain of the above type in which the strain is taken for the most partby surfaces of considerable extent, but which in bending turns about asharp edge with prac-l tically no sliding friction to provide a chain inwhich the wear of the driving sprocket does not come upon the pivots,and in which thewear due to the engagement of the chain with thesprocket is greatly reduced; to provide a chain in which provision ismade for a reduction of the sliding friction with the body over whichthe chain passes; and to provide a chain having means for protecting thepivotal bearing surfaces from dirt and injury.

One form of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawings, inwhich- Figures 1 and 2 are a plan and side elevation respectively of thepreferred form of chain Figure 3 is a section through the chain on theline III- III of Figure 1 Figure 4 is a side elevation of a modifiedform oi' chain provided with rollers;

Figures 5 and 6 are a plan and a side eleva tion respectively of anothermodification;

Figure 7 is a section through the chain on the line VII-VII of Figure 5;

Figure 8 is a side elevation of a form of chain only slightly differentfrom that of Figures 5 and Figures 9 and 10 are a plan and sideelevation respectively of another modification;

Figures 11 and 12 are a side elevation and plan view of a modified formof chain;

Figure 13 is a section through the chain of Figure 12, on the lineXUL-XIII;

Figure 14 and 15 are a side elevation and lan view of a form of chainslightly different from that of Figures 11 and 12 Figure 16 is a sectionthrough the chain on the line XVI- XVI of Figure 15;

Figures 17 and 18 are a side elevation and plan view respectively ofanother modification;

Figures 19 and 20 are a side elevation and plan view respectively of avery simple form of the device 3 Figure 21 is a section through thechain on the line XXII-XXII of Figure 20, and

Figures 22 and 23 are a plan and side eleva tion respectively of a formof chain slightly different from that of Figures 20 and 21.

Referring first to the preferred form of chain shown in Figures 1, 2,and 3, it will be noted that each of the links is composed of twoopposing side members 1, 1, which side members are spread apart at theends 2, 2, and at the other ends 3 are secured together by the shield 4(Figure 3), which shield extends about the pivot points of the links andserves the double function of a sti'lfening or tie member and of aprotector for preventing injury to the pivot members and excluding dirt.Securely riveted to the ends 2, 2, is the pivot block 5, which block inthe present instance is made rectangular and. has a flat front bearingface. The end 3 of the link has the clearance space 6 to provide for theoscillation of the member 5 when the chain passes over its sprocket, anda bearing block 7 is provided at the front end of such clearance space6, which block is riveted securely in the ends 3, and is preferablyrectangular in general crosssection with a recessed flat face 8 forengaging the flat face on the pivot block. It will be seen that thepivot block 5 serves as a tie member between the ends 2, 2', and thebearing block 7 serves as a tie member between the two opposing sides orends 3. The members 5 and 7 of course take the driving strain on thechain and are consequently hardened to render them more durable. It willbel observed that when the links are in alinement as shown in Figure 2,which position the chain assumes between its sprockets, the bearingmembers 5 and 7 engage each other throughout their illat bearing faces,but when the sprockets are reached and the chain bends, such bendingwill occur about the edge of the pivot block 5. The sharp edge of thepivot block 5 will therefore be in driving engagement during only asmall part of the distance through which the chain drives, and the wearon such edge is consequently reduced to a minimum. In other words, the

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ICS

applicants device provides a flat driving pivot at all times except whenthe chain is passing over its sprocket, which construction not onlyincreases the length of the life of the sharp edge, but also prevents alengthening of the chain due to the wearing away of the pivotal engagingsurfaces.

In Figure 4 a modified .form of conveyer chain is shown, whichmodification differs from the chain of Figures 1 and 2 in that rollers 8are provided intermediate the pivot points. These rollers are designedprimarily to engage the teeth of the driving sprocket, thereby removingthe driving strain and wear ordinarily incident to the engagement of thepivotal parts of the chain with thel teeth of the sprocket. Theserollers not only serve the purpose as above stated, but also decreasethe resistance of the chain when being dragged along a guide or othersupporting surface, as by means of such rollers the sliding friction isobviated and rolling friction substituted therefor.

In Figures 5 and 6 still another modification of the chain of Figures 1and 2 is illustrated. As here shown, the principal difference from thepreferred form resides in the shape of the pivot block 9 and the bearingblock 10, the other general features ofconstruction being substantiallythe same as in the preferred form. rlhe bearing block 10 is of the crosssection indicated in Figure 7 and has at its front bearing face Aarecess for engaging the end of the pivot block 9. The pivot block 9 hasa slightly concave bearing face fitting the bearing recess in the block10, and the rear portion of said pivot block is normally downwardlyinclined to fit against the side of the recess 11 in the side of thechain link. It will be seen that this arrangement provides for theoscill ation of the block 9 in only one direction, and hence that thischain will bend in only one directionx and is not reversible as is thechain of Figures' 1 and 2. The bearing members 9 and 10 are surroundedby a shield 12 corresponding to the shield 4 of Figure 3. Figure 8illustrates another form lof chain only slightly different from the formof chain shown in Figures 5, 6, and 7, the difference residing in theshapel of the pivot block 13, which pivot block is pointed at its rearend. v n

Figures 9 and 10 show a further modification of the preferred form of,chain, in which modification the pivot block l14 is semi-circular incross section and has its bearing face concaved to fit a correspondingconveXity in the bearing face of the bearing block 15. In other respectsthe general construction is similar to that of the preferred form.

Figures 11, 12, and 13, illustrate a modification of the preferred formof chain, which modication is simplied by the omission of the bearingblock. The pivot block 16 is secured to the outer links 17, and bears atits front face against the front side of the opening 1S in the link 19,the opening 18 being substantially circular in form and iiattened at itsfront side to correspond to the flat front side of the member 16. Itwill be observed that in this form as well as in the preferred form, afiat bearing surface is presented when the links are in alinement, andsuch surface changes to an edge pivot when the link is bent about itssprocket. Figures 14, 15, and 16, illustrate a modification very similarto the form of chain shown in Figures 11 12, and 13, the only differencebeing that the link 20 instead of being solid with a recess at each endfor the pivot blocks 21, is entirely cut away, providing the open space22.

Figures 17 and 18present another modiiication, whichmodiiicationconsists .in providing a short tube 23 in lieu of thebearing block of the preferred form'. This tube 23 is secured in thelinks 24 and engages the pivot block 25, which pivot block 25 is rivetedto the parts 26.

Figures 19 and 20 illustrate the simplest form of the invention. Asillustrated in Figure 21, the material of the links is bar stock flat onits inner side and half round on its outer side. The interlitting of thetwo links at their ends provides normally fiat bearing vsurfaces whichas heretofore set forth, constitutes an important feature of myinvention. When the links are bent relative to each other, the sharpedges24 will be in engagement with 'the opposing link. Figures 22 and 23lillustrate a modification differing from the chain of Figures 19 and 20only in that the links are broader. v

It will be apparent that even other modifications of the broad ideainvolved are possible, without departing from the spirit of theinvention. Several forms of coacting bearing faces have been shown, butit is apparent that other forms might be used, it being only necessarythat the contacting surfaces between the bearing members be of greatereX- tent whenthe links are in alinement than when at an angle to eachother, and that means be provided for preventing their lateral movementwith respect to each other. The contacting surfaces need not be exactlyfiat, as portions might be cut away or made irregular and at the sametime a greater bearing surface secured when the links are alined thanwhen they are at an angle to each other. Changes of this type areobviously'comprehended by my invention and are intended to be covered bythe claims.

Having thus described my invention and illustrated its use, what I claimas new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is the following:

1.-In combination in a chain, a pair of links having substantially flatcoacting bearing surfaces, and means to prevent the bear- IOO IIO

the other link, such block having separated bearing points .lying in thesame plane at right angles to the axis of the chain.

1:.-ln combination in a chain, a pair of links and a pivot block securedto one of the links and having a bearing engagement with the other link,suchblock having a sub- Y stantially flat bearing face.

5.#In combination in a chain, a pair of links and. a pair of engagingmembers for such llnks comprlsmg a pivot block secured 'to one memberand having a two-point bea-ring face and a bearing block in theothermember having a face adapted to coact with such two-point bearingface.

6.--In combination in a chain, a pair of links and a pair of engagingmembers for such links comprising a pivot block secured to one memberand having a substantially flat bearing face and a bearing block on theother member having a face adapted to coact With such flat bearing face,the parts being provided with clearance spaces adapted to permit of theoscillation of the bearing members but to prevent relative lateralmovement of such members.

7 -ln combination in a chain, an inside link comprising opposing sidemembers with i a substantially flat faced bearing member secured thereinandhaving clearance spaces opposite the bearing member and an outsidelink comprising opposing side members with a substantially flat facedbearing member secured thereto and adapted to oscillate in the clearancespaces, and means for preventing the bearing members from slidinglaterally on each other.

8.-#In combination in a chain, an inside link comprising opposing sidemembers with a bearing member having a two-point bearing face securedtherein and having clearance spaces opposite the bearing member, and anoutside link comprising opposing side members with a bearing membersecured thereto and adapted to coact with the two-point bearing Afaceand oscillate in the clearance spaces, the clearance spaces being shapedto permit oscillatory motion but to prevent relative lateral motion ofthe bearing members.

9 111 combination in a chain, engaging links provided with opposingbearing members each of which engages the other at two points when thelinks are in alinement and pivots on one of such points when the linksare at an angle, and means to prevent the bearing members from slidinglaterally on each other.

10.--1n combination in a chain, an inside link member comprising sidelinks, a bearing member secured transversely of the ends of such sidelinks, a shield extending around the end of such side links, and anoutside link member comprising side links and abearing member secured tosuch side links and adapted tocoactwith the other bearing member.

11.--In combination, a pair of links having bearing surfaces adapted tocontact on a limited area when the links are at an angie to each other,and to contact on an increased surface when the links are in alinement,and means to prevent the bearing surfaces from sliding laterally oneach. other.

l2.-ln combination, a pair of links having primary bearing surfacesadapted to contact when the links are in alinement and secondary bearingsurfaces adapted to contact when the links are at an angle to eachother, and means to prevent the bearing surfaces from sliding laterallyon each other.

l3.-ln combination in a chain, a pair of links having coacting bearingsurfaces and a pivot point therefor lying in a plane to one kside of theplane of the axis of the chain, and

means to prevent the bearing surfaces from sliding laterally on eachother.

In testimony whereof l. have hereunto signed my name in the presence ofthe two subscribed witnesses.

WILLIAM T. JAMES.

Witness:

Rini. CARPENTER, JAMES NICHOLAS LORENZ.

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